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All Seeing Eye A universal symbol representing spiritual sight, inner vision, higher knowledge, insight into occult mysteries. Look at your $1 bill.    EYE in top Triangle of the PYRAMID: Masonic symbol for the all-seeing eye of god - an mystical distortion of the omniscient (all-knowing) Biblical God. 
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Alchemy This simple 17th century "sign" illustrates the blending of geometric shapes -- circle, triangle, square -- representing the various "elements" needed for spells and magic.
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Amulet A magic charm (such as this little Navajo bear earring), worn to bring good luck and protection against illness, accidents and evil forces.
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Anarchy Absence or denial of any authority or established order. This represents the slogan, "do what thou wilt." Some say it represents the ASMODEAS: a demonic force..
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Ankh An Egyptian cross symbolizing a mythical eternal life, rebirth, and the life-giving power of the sun.
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Angel Symbol of good and evil spirits in religions around the world. This picture shows a Tibetan guardian angel.
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Runes a Norse alphabet developed around 200 BCE, from characters used for magical purposes. It was believed to have been discovered by Odin as he hung upside down and wounded for nine days on the World Tree Yggdrasil. The word 'rune' literally means a 'whisper' or 'secret.' In the present time, runes are created and used by Asatru believers as a device for meditation and divination. One is generally expected to construct their own set of runestones.
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Crystal (Gazing) Ball Used for divination (fortunetelling, scrying, clairvoyance...). When the heavy crystal balls were too expensive, witches often used glass-ball fishing floats, colored glass balls, or magic mirrors.
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Bat A symbol of good fortune in the East, it represented demons and spirits in medieval Europe
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Blair Witch A five-pointed compound symbol with a center triangle pointing down. The five lines resemble the microcosmic man with arms and legs outstretched - a magic symbol or charm among medieval alchemists and wizards.
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Butterfly To many pagans, its mythical meaning is linked to the soul (of the deceased) in search of reincarnation. To Christians it represents the transformation that takes place through Christ's redemption.
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Chaos Chaos is the opposite of order. Since everything changes, there is no right or no wrong -- only the quest for pleasure. The 8-pointed star represents the many different directions of chaos and the many ways you can follow it. Chaos is everywhere, it blows in the wind...
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Circle An ancient and universal symbol of unity, wholeness, and infinity. To earth-centered religions throughout history as well as to many contemporary pagans, it represents the feminine spirit or force, the cosmos or a spiritualized Mother Earth, and a sacred space. Gnostic traditions linked the unbroken circle to the "world serpent" forming a circle as it eats its own tail.
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Circle with a Bindu In the complex symbolic system of Hinduism and Buddhism, the bindu (dot) represents the male force. Together, the circle and the bindu symbolize the merging of male and female forces. This symbol also represents the sun, which was worshipped as a personified, life-giving deity in Babylonian, Egyptian, Greek, Roman, and other major civilizations of history.
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Circle (quartered) The sacred circle filled with a cross, four equal lines pointing from the center to the spirits of the north, east, south, and west -- or to the basic element: earth, water, air, and fire. In Native American traditions, it forms the basic pattern of the MEDICINE WHEEL and plays a vital part in major spiritual rituals. Churches have used variations of the same popular shape, usually calling it the Celtic Cross.
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Compass (Masonic) The Masonic symbol of the compass and the T-square represents movement toward perfection and a balance between the spiritual and physical which resembles Egyptian and oriental mysticism. The compass (used to form circles) represent spirit. The ruler (part of a square) represent the physical.
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Cow It symbolizes the sky goddess Hathor to Egyptians, enlightenment to Buddhists, one of the highest and holiest stages of transmigration (reincarnation) to Hindus.
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Crescent Moon A symbol of the aging goddess (crone) to contemporary witches and victory over death to many Muslims. In Islamic lands, crescent can be seen enclosing a lone pentagram.
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The Cross While anyone--even pagans--now use the cross as decoration or as an occult symbol, Christians continue to treasure the cross of Calvary. But be careful what kind of cross you wear - and what message you communicate to others.
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Eisernas Kreuz Also called the Mantuan or Maltese cross. First linked to an ancient goddess temple on Malta, it was adopted as the Iron Cross in Prussia. During the First World War, it appeared on German fighter planes and tanks. Later, it became a fascist symbol in France, Portugal and other nations.
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Double-headed Eagle A Masonic seal and initiation symbol. The number inside the pyramid over the eagle's head is 33. The eagle is a universal symbol representing the sun, power, authority, victory, the sky gods and the royal head of a nation.
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Dragon A mythical monster made up of many animals: serpent, lizard, bird, lion... It may have many heads and breath fire. To mediaeval Europe, it was dangerous and evil, but people in Eastern Asia believe it has power to help them against more hostile spiritual forces. In the Bible it represents Satan, the devil.
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Dreamcatcher An American Indian magic spiderweb inside a sacred circle. After making dreamcatchers in crafts lessons in school, many children hang them on or near their beds. Supposedly dreamcatchers will block bad dreams but allow good dreams to pass through the center.
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Elements The four basic elements to many pagans are earth, water, air (wind or spirit) and fire. Many consider the first two passive and feminine - and the last two active and masculine.
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Eye of Horus This represents the eye of Egyptian sun-god Horus who lost an eye battling Set. Pagans use it as a charm to ward off evil.
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Frog A symbol of fertility to many cultures. The Romans linked it to Aphrodite, the Egyptian to the shape-shifting goddess Heket who would take the form of a frog. To the Chinese, it symbolized the moon -- "the lunar, yin principle" bringing healing and prosperity. Since frogs need watery places, their image was often used in occult rain charms.
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Hexagram When surrounded by a circle, it represents the "divine mind" (a counterfeit of God's wisdom) to numerous occult groups through the centuries. Many still use it in occult rituals. But to Jewish people, it is their Star of David.
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Italian Horn (Cornu, Cornicello, Wiggly Horn, Unicorn horn, Lucifier's horn or Leprechaun staff). The ancient magical charm or amulet worn in Italy as protection against "evil eye" has also been linked to Celtic and Druid myths and beliefs. Other superstitions link it to sexual power and good luck. It is often worn with a cross (for double protection or luck). In pre-Christian Europe, animal horns pointed to the moon goddess and were considered sacred.
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Lightning Bolt In ancient mythologies from many cultures (Norse, Roman, Greek, Native American, etc.) the lighting bolt would be hurled by male sky gods to punish, water, or fertilize the earth or its creatures. Navaho myths linked it to the Thunderbird, the symbol of salvation and divine gifts. On children's toys, it represents supernatural power. Double bolts, popular with contemporary skinheads, symbolize Nazi power.
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The Lizard The way the lizard seeks the sunlight symbolizes the soul's search for awareness. To the Romans, who believed it hibernated, the lizard meant death and resurrection.
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Magic Mirror Used for "scrying" (foretelling the future). The preferred spectrum might be decorated with "magic signs" during full moon rituals. One concentrates upon an object with a shiny surface-- until visions appear....The term scrying comes from the English words descry which means 'to make out dimly' or 'to reveal.
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Mandala The Hindu term for "circle". In Hindu and Buddhist meditations, it is used to raise consciousness. In meditation, the person fixes his or her mind on the center of the "sacred circle." Geometric designs are common. The center of some mandalas show a triangle with a bindu (dot) inside a circle. It represents the merging of male and female forces.
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Mask Used by pagans around the world to represent animal powers, nature spirits, or ancestral spirits. In pagan rituals, the wearer may chant, dance and enter a trance in order to contact the spirit world and be possessed by the spirit represented by the mask. The mask pictured represents the mythical Hindu elephant god, Ganesha.
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Medicine Shield A round shield decorated with personal symbols or pictures of the animal spirit(s) contacted on a Spirit Quest
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Om Sanskrit letters or symbol for the "sacred" Hindu sound om (ohm or aum) called "the mother of all mantras. The four parts symbolize four stages of consciousness: Awake, sleeping, dreaming, and a trance or transcendental state.
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Pentacle 5 pointed star pointing up. A standard symbol for witches, freemasons, and many other pagan or occult groups. To witches, it represents the four basic elements (wind, water, earth and fire) plus a pantheistic spiritual being such as Gaia or Mother Earth. It is also used for protection - to banish energy, or to bring it to you, depending on how it's drawn.
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Pentagram 5 pointed star pointing down. Used in occult rituals to direct forces or energies. Often represents satanism, the horned god or various expressions of contemporary occultism, especially when a goat-head is superimposed on the inverted pentagram.
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Philosopher's Stone The symbol for the Alchemist quest for transformation and spiritual illumination, it was also the British title of the first Harry Potter book (the U.S. publisher changed it to Sorcerer's Stone). The double-headed eagle in the center is a Masonic seal.
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The Phoenix A universal symbol of the sun, rebirth, resurrection and immortality, this legendary red "fire bird" was believed to die in its self-made flames, then rise again out of its own ashes. The Phoenix is also linked to the worship of the fiery sun and sun gods such as Mexico's Quetzalcoatl.
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Scarab Called the dung beetle because of its practice of rolling a ball of dung across the ground. The Egyptians observed this behavior and equated it with the ball of the sun being rolled across the sky. This sacred symbol adorned popular seals, amulets and magic charms (worn as protection against evil spirits or to overcome barreness) first in Egypt, then in Phoenicia, Greece and other Mediterranean lands. Medieval alchemists used its pattern in their magical diagrams.
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Serpant (or Snake) Most earth-centered or pagan cultures worshipped the serpent. It represents rebirth (because of its molting), protection against evil, either male of female sexuality, rain and fertility, a mediator between the physical and spiritual world. In the Bible it usually represents sin, temptation, destruction, and Satan. The circular image of the serpent biting its tail links the mythical significance of the serpent to that of the sacred "circle."
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The Spider Linked to treachery and death in many cultures, it was seen as a "trickster" in ancient Africa, a "spinner of fate" in ancient goddess cultures and -- in ancient Greek myths -- the goddess Arachne was turned into a spider by her jealous rival Athena. Christian cultures have linked it both to an evil force that sucked blood from its victims and to good luck because of the cross on the back of some species. The Chinese consider the spider descending on its thread a bringer of joys from heaven.
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The Sphinx Ancient Egyptian and Babylonian guardian of sacred places --an idol with human head and a lion's body. The Greek sphinx would devour travelers who failed to answer her riddle.
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Spiral Linked to the "circle". Ancient symbol of the goddess, the womb, fertility, feminine serpent force, continual change, and the evolution of the universe.
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Square In contrast to the circle which often symbolizes the sacred and spiritual, the square represents the physical world. Like the quartered circle, it points pagans to the four compass directions: north, east, south and west. While the circle and "spiral" symbolize female sexuality in many earth-centered cultures, the square represents male qualities.
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Sun Face The pictured image is part of an 18th century Masonic ritual painting, but it illustrates a symbol that has been central to most major spiritual systems of history. Since the sun god usually reigned over a pantheon of lesser gods. his symbol played a vital part in pagan worship (and in the rituals of occult secret societies) around the world. In Inca myths, the sun was worshipped as the divine ancestor of the nation.
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Sun and Moon A universal pagan expression of the merging of opposites. Like the Yin Yang, the marriage of the male sun and the female moon represents unity in diversity, compromise instead of conflict, and conformity to a new consciousness where all is one.
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Lotus Sema represents the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt. In this rendering we see the Sema bound with the lotus. The lotus represents Upper Egypt.
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Sun Wheel or Ring Cross. A universal symbol found on ancient slabs in Nordic countries, in pre-Columbian America and in Mediterranean countries. Today, it is used as a logo by some new fascist organizations. Like the swastika and other sun symbols, it represents power and supremacy.
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Theosophy Simplified version of the symbol behind the occult beliefs of UN leader Robert Muller (his World Core Curriculum became a worldwide pattern for global education) and education leader Shirley McCune.
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Toad Linked to witchcraft and other occult practices
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Tongue (protruding): Linked to flame, fire, fertility, sexual power and spiritual power. In nations around the world, images of deities or masks with protruding tongues have indicated active and occupying spiritual forces -- often a union of masculine and feminine spirits. Such images were vital to pagan rituals invoking demonic spirits. The sexual/spiritual forces represented by gargoyles with protruding tongues which adorned Gothic cathedrals were believed to protect the buildings from other spiritual powers.
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Totem Carved, painted representation of power animals or animal-human ancestors. To American Indians in the Northwest, who believe that all of nature has spiritual life, the animals in their totems poles represent the spiritual powers of animal protectors or ancestors.
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Triangle Associated with the number 3. Pointing upwards, it symbolizes fire, male power and counterfeit view of God. To Christians, it often represents the Trinity. Pointing down, it symbolizes water, female sexuality, and homosexuality.
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Uroborus The serpent biting its own tail represents eternity and the cycles or "circle of life." Medieval alchemists linked it to the cyclical processes in nature. The uroborus pictured here (encircling the UN symbol for humanity seen inside a triangle was the official symbol on for the 1996 United Nations Conference on Human Settlements pictured on all its literature.
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The Wheel A universal symbol of or cosmic unity, astrology, "the circle of life," evolution, etc. The pagan sacred circle plus any number of radiating spokes or petals form the wheel - a Wheel of Life to Buddhists, a Medicine Wheel to Native Americans, a Mandala to Hindus. It symbolizes unity, movement, the sun, the zodiac, reincarnation, and earth's cycles of renewal. Pagans use it in astrology, magic and many kinds of rituals.
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Tibetan Prayer Wheel device for spreading spiritual blessings and well being. Rolls of thin paper, imprinted with many, many copies of the mantra Om Mani Padme Hum... are wound around an axle in a protective container, and spun around and around. Tibetan Buddhists believe that saying this mantra, out loud or silently to oneself, invokes the powerful benevolent attention and blessings of Chenrezig, the embodiment of compassion.
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Wheel of Dharma Buddhist wheel of life and reincarnation.
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The Wishbone Civilizations dating back to the 4th Century (Etruscans, Romans... Britain, America) have held turkey or chicken wishbone contest. Pulling the dry turkey or chicken bone until it snapped ("lucky break"), they believing the winner's wish or dream would come true. In today's increasingly superstitious culture, many believe that this symbol will "catch" their dreams, bring good luck, and make their wishes come true. As in contemporary witchcraft or magic, the object becomes a channel of "good" energy.
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World Triad Originally an oriental symbol, it was adopted by western Gnostics as an emblem of cosmic creativity, the threefold nature of reality or fate, and the eternally spiraling cycles of time... In Japan it was maga-tama or mitsu tomoe, the world soul.... In Bhutan and Tibet, it is still known as the Cosmic Mandal, a sign of the Trimurti. Like the Yin Yang, it also represents eternity.
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Yin Yang A Chinese Tao picture of universal harmony and the unity between all opposites: light/dark, male/female, etc. Yin is the dark, passive, negative female principle. Yang is the light, active, positive principle. Since it represent monism (all is one) and pantheism (all is God), it opposes Christianity, which shows us that there is only one God (monotheism), and only in Christ can we be one.
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Astrological Chart used by medieval alchemists in divination. Notice the symbol of the intellect and of the planet (and Roman god) Mercury inside the center "triangle" (see above). This triangle is surrounded by a hexagram and two smaller triangles positioned as male and female energy - and seven more concentric "circles". Compound symbols within magical codes and names inside multiple circles have been used by occultists and sorcerers in many parts of the world. It is still used in African witchcraft.
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Amenta This symbol represents the Underworld or Land of the Dead. Originally it meant the horizon of the sun set. Later, it became the symbol of the west bank of the Nile, where the sun set and also where the Egyptians traditionally buried their dead.
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Nekhbet A goddess portrayed as a vulture. Protrectress of Upper Egypt.
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Ba The Ba is referring to one's soul. It would leave the body at the time of death. During the days the Ba would make itself useful, at night it would return to the tomb. At this time, it would look for the person to which it belonged. This would be the mummy, however, often the egyptians would supply the Ba with a statue in the likeness of the deceased in case the mummy was lost or damaged.
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Shenu More commonly known as a cartouche. The shape represents a loop of rope in which a name is written. A Shenu is protector of that name.
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Leb This symbol represents a heart. The Egyptian believed the heart was the center of all consciousness, even the center of life itself. When someone died it was said that their "heart has departed." It was the only organ that was not removed from the body during mummification. In the Book of the dead, it was the heart that was weighed against the feather of Maat to see if an individual was worthy of joining Osiris in the afterlife.
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Flail and Crook A symbol of royalty, majesty and dominion.
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Primordial Hill The Egyptians believed that during creation this hill rose out of the sea of chaos to create dry land. The idea of this hill rising had a profound effect on the egyptians, being used as every thing from temple layouts to the possible inspiration behind the pyramids.
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Udjat The sound eye of Horus. Symbolizes healing and protection.
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Maat Represents truth, justice, morality and balance. Deities are often seen standing on this symbol, as if standing on a foundation of Maat.
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Kalash (kalasa) - This symbol, depicting a vase covered with leaves, is a representation of the kalash, a Hindu/Jain ritual implement. The kalash is a clay or copper pot filled with water, and topped with mango leaves and a coconut. The kalash has many symbolic meanings- it is the primordial waters, the soul filled with love and compassion, abundance, and hospitality. The coconut is a symbol of the God head- the three eyes symbolic of the eyes of Vishnu.
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Shen A loop of rope that has no beginning and no end, it symbolized eternity. The sun disk is often depicted in the center of it. The shen also seems to be a symbol of protection. It is often seen being clutched by deities in bird form, Horus the falcon, Mut the vulture. Hovering over Pharaohs head with their wings outstretched in a gesture of protection. The word shen comes from the word "shenu" which means "encircle," and in its elongated form became the cartouche which surrounded the king's name.
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Nemes A striped headcloth worn by Pharaohs.
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Atef The atef crown was worn by Osiris. It is made up of the white crown of Upper Egypt and the red feathers are representative of Busiris, Osiris's cult center in the Delta.
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Deshret The Red Crown. This was the crown that represented Lower Egypt.
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Hedjet The White Crown. This was the crown of Upper Egypt.
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Pshent The Double Crown, the red crown and the white crown put together to represent a unified Egypt. Although Egypt was not always a unified nation it was stronger that way. Therefore unification was desirable. Narmer (Menes), the founder of the First Dynasty around 3100 B.C., was the first man recorded wearing this crown.
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Khepresh The blue crown was a ceremonial crown often worn in battle.
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Uraeus The cobra is an emblem of Lower Egypt. It is associated with the king and kingdom of Lower Egypt. It is also associated with the sun and with many deities. The cobra represented the "fiery eye of Re", in which two uraei can be seen on either side of a winged solar disk. The uraeus appears as a symbol worn on the crown or headdress of royalty. It is used as a protective symbol, the Egyptians believed that the cobra would spit fire at any approaching enemies.
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Feather of Maat Represents truth, justice, morality and balance. It was pharaoh's job to uphold Maat. When a pharaoh died, Maat was lost and the world was flung into chaos. Only the coronation of a new pharaoh could restore Maat.
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Djed It is believed that the Djed is a rendering of a human backbone. It represents stability and strength. It was originally associated with the creation god Ptah, himself being called the "Noble Djed". As the Osiris cults took hold it became known as the backbone of Osiris. A djed column is often painted on the bottom of coffins, where the backbone of the deceased would lay. This identified the person with the king of the underworld, Osiris. It also acts as a sign of stability for the deceased' journey into the afterlife.
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Nebu This symbol represents gold which was considered a divine metal, it was thought to be the flesh of the gods. Its polished surface was related to the brilliance of the sun. Gold was important to the afterlife as it represents aspects of immortality. By the New Kingdom, the royal burial chamber was called the "House of Gold."
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Khet This symbol represents a lamp or brazier on a stand from which a flame emerges. Fire was embodied in the sun and in its symbol the uraeus which spit fire. Fire also plays a part in the Egyptian concept of the underworld. There is one terrifying aspect of the underworld which is similar to the Christians concept of hell. Most Egyptians would like to avoid this place with its fiery lakes and rivers that are inhabited by fire demons.
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Ka The ka is usually translated as "soul" or "spirit". The ka came into existence when an individual was born. It was believed that the ram-headed god Khnum crafted the ka on his potter's wheel at a persons birth. It was thought that when someone died they "met their ka". A persons ka would live on after their body had died. Some tombs included model houses as the ka needed a place to live. Offerings of food and drink would be left at the tomb entrance so the ka could eat and drink.
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Menhed A scribes pallet. Writing was a very important skill to the ancient Egyptians. It was practiced by a group called scribes. The writing equipment used by scribes consisted of a palette, which held black and red pigments, a water jar, and a pen. To be a scribe was a favorable position, even some kings and nobles are shown proudly displaying scribe palettes.
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Was This is a symbol of power and dominion. The Was scepter is carried by deities as a sign of their power. It is also seen being carried by kings and later by people of lesser stature in mortuary scenes.
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Vedik Om The word Om (aum) derives from the Sanskrit. The Om is the primordial sound by which the earth was created- a similar concept to the Greek Logos. It symbolizes unfolding or expansion- when pronounced, it begins in the lungs, and ends on the lips. This is the ancient Hindu version of the Om symbol.
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Rekhyt This bird is called the Lapwing, it is identified by its head crest, It's wings are pined back preventing it from flying. This symbol signifies a group of people. It is often seen below the feet of a ruler to signify that the people are subjects of that ruler.
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Naos Shrine in which divine statues were kept, especially in temple sanctuaries. A small wooden naos was normally placed inside a monolithic one in hard stone; the latter are typical of the Late Period, and sometimes elaborately decorated. Also used as a term for temple sanctuary.
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Menat This symbol represents a heavy beaded necklace with a crescent shaped front and a counter piece at the rear. It was a symbol associated with the goddess Hathor and her son, Ihy. In fact , Hathor was known as the "Great Menat". Hathor used the Menat as a conduit through which she passes her power. It was representative of the ideas of joy, life, potency, fertility, birth, and rebirth.
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Ra The sun was the primary element of life in ancient Egypt, we find this importance reflected in the art and religion. Some of the most popular gods had a solar connection. The sun was first worshipped as Horus, then as Ra and later as Amun-Ra.
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The Aten The Aten gained its prominence during the reign of Akhenaten. The heretic king made an effort it seems, to unite all the peoples of Egypt under one god. He abolished the traditional cults of Egypt and replaced them with the Aten. Unfortunately for Akhenaten, the Egyptians did not wish to be united in this fashion. This god had no physical image, but it was represented as a solar disk projecting many downward rays that ended as human hands.
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Medusa The legendary monster of Greek myth, whose head graced the shield of the Goddess Athena. The Medusa's head is frequently seen in use as a protective device on shields and talismans.
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Djew Which means mountain, the symbol suggests two peaks with the Nile valley in the middle. The Egyptians believed that there was a cosmic mountain range that held up the heavens. It was on these peaks that heaven rested. Each peak of this mountain chain was guarded by a lion deity, who's job it was to protect the sun as it rose and set. The mountain was also a symbol of the tomb and the afterlife, probably because most Egyptian tombs were located in the mountainous land bordering the Nile valley.
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Akhet This symbol represents the horizon from which the sun emerged and disappeared. The horizon thus embodied the idea of both sunrise and sunset. It is similar to the two peaks of the Djew or mountain symbol with solar disk in the center.
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Sistrum The sistrum was a sacred percussion instrument used in the cult of Hathor. The sistrum consisted of a wooden or metal frame fitted with loose strips of metal and disks which jingled when moved. This noise was thought to attract the attention of the gods.
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Tiet The exact origin of this symbol is unknown. In many respects it resembles an ankh except that its arms curve down. It represents the ideas of resurrection and eternal life. As early as the Third Dynasty we find the tiet being used as decoration when it appears with both the ankh and the djed column, and later with the Was scepter. The tiet is associated with Isis and is often called "the knot of Isis" or "the blood of Isis." It seems to be called "the knot of Isis" because it resembles a knot used to secure the garments that the gods wore.
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She A pool of water. The Egyptians portrayed bodies of water by means of equally spaced vertical wave lines. When these lines are inclosed by a rectangle it denotes a lake or pool. The Egyptians believed water was the primeval matter from which aII creation began. Life in Egypt's desert climate depended on water, and a pool of water would be a great luxury. There are many tomb paintings that show the deceased drinking from a pool in the afterlife.
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Sesen A Lotus Flower. This is a symbol of the sun, of creation and rebirth. Because at night the flower closes and sinks underwater, at dawn it rises and opens again. According to one creation myth it was a giant lotus which first rose out of the watery chaos at the beginning of time. From this giant lotus the sun itself rose on the first day. A symbol of Upper Egypt.
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Pet This symbol depicts the sky as a ceiling which drops at the ends, the same way the real sky seems to reach for the horizon. This sign was often used in architectural motifs; the top of walls, and door frames. It symbolizes the heavens.
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The Sa This symbol means protection. Its origins are uncertain, but it is speculated that it represents either a rolled up herdsman's shelter or a papyrus life-preserver used by ancient egyptian boaters. Either way it is clearly a symbol of protection. From early times the Sa plays an important part in jewelry design. It is often used in conjunction with symbols, particularly the Ankh, Was and Djed signs. We often find Taurt, the hippopotamus goddess of childbirth, resting her paw on a standing sa sign.
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Palm Branch The Egyptians would put a notch in a palm branch to mark the passing of a year in the life of a pharaoh. It symbolized the measure of time.
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Sekhem This is a symbol of authority.
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Ushabtis Literally translated it means "to answer." It is a small mummiform figure placed in tombs to do work in the afterlife on behalf of the deceased. In some tombs of the late New Kingdom whole gangs of ushabti workers were included with different tools for doing different work. A complete collection would consist of 401 Ushabti: one for each day of the year, 365 plus 36 foreman.
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Fetish An animal skin hanging from a stick, this is a symbol of Osiris and Anubis.
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Canopic Jars During mummification the internal organs were removed and placed in four containers. These containers often have human or animal-headed stoppers. The word, canopic, comes from the Greek name of the local god of Canopus in the Nile delta, who was represented as a human-headed pot. Canopic jars can be made of limestone, alabaster, wood, pottery, or even cartonnage. The heads of the canopic jar represented the Four Sons of Horus, and guarded the liver, intestines, lungs, and stomach.
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Sema This is a rendering of the lungs attached to the windpipe. As a hieroglyph this symbol represents the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt. Other symbols are often added to further illustrate unification.
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Sema in Papyrus In this rendering we see the Sema bound with the papyrus, which represents Lower Egypt.
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Hidden Pentacle A pentacle disguised in a more intricate design, which may be worn when it is not safe or appropriate to wear a standard pentacle. Many such stylized designs are worn which can be recognized by other believers, but less apparent to intolerant family or in the workplace.
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Horn Moon This represents the masculine polarity of the universe. The Horn Moon is the archetypal horned Shaman, related to the ancient Gods of vegetation and the hunt: Greek Pan, the Celtic Cernunnos, and the Egyptian Ammon. It is a symbol of the Goddess Diana, especially in Dianic Wicca.
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Horned God Another Horned God image, created from a pentacle.
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Hathor Another Horned God image, drawn from Egyptian hieroglyphs representing the Cow Goddess Hathor, is sometimes used by egyptian or feminine centered Pagans.
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Triple Luna Representing the three aspects of the moon (waxing, waning, and full).
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Triple Goddess Representing the 3 aspects of womankind (mother, maiden, crone), as well as the Lady, or Goddess, the feminine polarity of the universe.
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Wheel of the Year Marks the important holy days, or Sabbats, in the Wiccan Ritual calendar. It is derived from the sun wheel, or solar cross, a pre-Christian European calendar marking the Solstices and Equinoxes:
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Cauldron Sometimes called the Cup or Cauldron of Cerridwen. The ancient Celts used cauldrons for food and in ritual as an emblem of abundance and divine inspiration. In Celtic mythology and folklore, the cauldron provides infinite sustenance or artistic inspiration. As a Wiccan ritual tool, it's most often used to represent the fire or water elements, the cauldron is sometimes employed for scrying, for mixing herbs, for consecration, or to hold the ingredients for a spell. It is generally held to be a feminine symbol:
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Cernunnos an ancient Celtic horned deity who is often considered the origin of the concept of the Wiccan Horned God. Cernunnos symbolizes the masculine power of nature, especially the domain of forests and the animals that dwell in them.
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The Lady A simplified silhouette of a paleolithic Egyptian mother Goddess, probably a prototype of the Goddess Isis, and is often used to symbolize the feminine deity of Wicca.
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Witch's Sign Used in some traditions to mark ritual tools. It is similar to the solar cross, but its exact origin is unknown (It is similar to the Roman numeral thirteen, and reader suggests this may represent the coven of thirteen members). Similar devices were used in the medieval period to mark time.
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Hecate's Wheel An ancient Greek symbol, and is an emblem of the Moon Goddess Hecate (Diana Lucifera), and her triple aspect. It is generally used by practitioners of Hellenic Recon or Dianic Traditions.
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Seax-Wicca The emblem of an Anglo-Saxon influenced branch of Wicca, symbolizes the sun, moon, and the eight Sabbats, or holy days.
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Elven Star (or seven pointed star) - associated with practitioners of "Fairy" Wicca.
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The Cup (or chalice) - a symbol of the element of water, a feminine element representing intuition, gestation, psychic ability, and the subconscious. The Cup also stands in as a symbol of the Goddess, of the womb, and the female generative organs.;
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Athame (or ritual dagger) - a symbol of fire. The Athame represents the fire element, and the masculine qualities of consciousness, action, force, and strength. The athame is used to direct energy and is employed in the casting of circles. An athame is traditionally black handled and dull, but as the knife is considered a personal emblem, there is a lot of variety in how it's depicted.
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The Wand A symbol of air. It should be noted that in Ritual Magick, wands are of the fire element, and the dagger is of air. Wiccan practice generally reverses these designations, largely due to the union of the chalice with the dagger in ritual. Wiccan wands are usually made of wood, copper, or crystal, and can be quite ornate and personal in their design. Of all the witch's tools, it is the most personal:
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Triple Horn of Odin A stylized emblem of the Norse God Odin. This symbol consists of three interlocked drinking horns, and is commonly worn or displayed as a sign of commitment to the Asatru faith. The horns figure in the mythological stories of Odin and are recalled in traditional Norse toasting rituals.
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Gungnir (Gar, Spear of Odin, Sword of Odin) - a Dwarven magical weapon given to Odin by Loki, which never misses its mark, and always returns to Odin's hand..
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The Cross and Flame The Cross and Flame is the official symbol of The United Methodist Church, adopted in 1968. The cross symbolizes Christ; the flame, the Holy Spirit of pentecost.
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Veve In Vodoun (Voodoo) practice, Veves are intricate symbols of the Loas (gods), and are used in rituals. Each Loa has his or her own complex veve, which is traced on the ground with powdered eggshell or a similar substance prior to a ritual.
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Endless Knot One of the "eight auspicious signs," symbolizing the eight-fold paths of Buddhism. The knot, also known as the "mystic dragon," is a symbol of eternity and unity.
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Irminsul A common symbol of the Asatru faith. The irminsul was a solar-phallic pillar used in religious worship practices by early Anglo-Saxons, and destroyed by Charlemagne in 772 AD. The Irminsul was likely related to the World Tree Yggdrasil, a symbol of the axis mundi (world axis), a symbol of man and the cosmos.
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Awen (or Rays) - Awen in the Celtic language means means "inspiration," or "essence," and refers to spiritual illumination. The three parts of the Awen symbol represent the harmony of opposites- the left and right rays symbolizing female and male energy; the center bar their harmonious balance.
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Labrys is a double headed ritual axe. It is found in ancient Minoan depictions of the Mother Goddess, where its symbolism is related to the labrynth. The word "labrys" is Minoan in origin and is from the same root as the Latin labus, or lips. Use of the labrys has been documented on medieval charms used to attract women. Today, it is often used as a sign of identity and solidarity among lesbians.
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Mjolnir (or Thor's Hammer) - Mjolnir means "lightning," and symbolized the God's power over Thunder and Lightning. The Hammer Mjolnir was said to always return after it had been thrown. The Thor's Hammer amulet was worn frequently by believers as a symbol of protection- a practice so popular it continued even after most of the Norse population had converted to Christianity.
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Triquetra A tripartate symbol composed of three interlocked vesica pisces, marking the intersection of three circles. It is most commonly a symbol of the Holy Trinity (Father, son, Holy spirit) used by the Celtic Christian Church, sometimes stylized as three interlaced fish:
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Mendes Goat The so-called "Mendes Pentacle" or Sabbatic Goat emblem was devised in the nineteen fifties. A simplified version of the symbol shown was adopted as the emblem of Anton Lavey's Church of Satan in 1966. The Hebrew letters surrounding the pentacle spell out "Leviathan," the mythic sea monster of the Old Testament. This emblem is occasionaly called the "Judas Goat" by modern Satanists.
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Sigil of Lucifer A lesser known historical magical sigil used occasionally as an emblem by modern Satanists. The image originates in the sixteenth century Italian Grimoirium Verum, or "Grimoire of Truth." Used in conjunction with other symbols, its original purpose of the sigil was to aid in a visual invocation of the angel Lucifer.
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Mano Cornuto Means "horned hand" in Italian; the gesture is commonly depicted on charms against the evil eye. It is unclear whether the gesture originated as an image of horns or as a "poking out the eyes" gesture, but ancient lunar goddess charms depicting animal horns were used for similar protective purposes and are probably related to the gesture. The use of the horns as a symbol of satanic belief is recent, and is evolved from it's use by heavy metal musicians and fans.
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Reversed Cross (also known as the cross of St. Peter) - a symbol of humility, a symbol of Martyred St. Peter's refusal to be crucified in the manner of Christ, preferring to be hung upside down. Today, the symbol of an upturned cross may symbolize an opposition to Christian dogma. The inverted cross is also an esoteric symbol of reversal, and is related to the 12th key of the tarot, the hanged man.
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Rose Cross Lamen The Rose Cross Lamen was the most important teaching symbol of the outer order of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, an eighteenth century magickal society. Based on the Rosicrucian Rose cross, it is a kabbalisitc glyph containing a number of formulas, among them all of the "King scale" colors assigned by the GD to the Tree of Life, the four elements, alchemical elements, and the planets of the zodiac. In the center of the cross is a rose with twenty-two petals symbolizing the letters of the Hebrew alphabet and colored accordingly, which is often used as a device for creating sigils.
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Mano Fico (or fig hand) is an ancient obscene gesture. The thumb and fist gesture is an ancient representation of sexual union. The name is from the Italian word for the female vulva, fica, meaning fig (and also the origin of an english obscenity). The fig was associated by the romans with female fertility and eroticism; the fruit was sacred to Bacchus. The gesture is used against the evil eye in the belief that an obscenity serves as a distraction to evil.
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Necronomicon Gate (or the Gate of Yog-Sohoth) - a false sigil usually found on the cover of an edition of the legendary and quite fake "Necronomicon," a falsified grimoire based on the work of horror fiction writer H.P. Lovecraft.
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Cross of Questioning a logo for the rock band Blue Oyster Cult. Created by artist Bill Gawlick for the band's first album, the symbol is patterned after the astrological symbol of Saturn/Cronos, in the shape of a sickle.
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Zoso Called "Zoso" because it resembles a word, this glyph is one of four enigmatic symbols appearing on the cover of Led Zeppelin IV. Each member of the band chose a personal emblem for the cover; this symbol was chosen by guitarist Jimmy Page as a personal emblem. The symbol is probably derived from a sixteenth century treatise by mathemetician and occultist Girolamo Cardano, where it is used to represent the planet Saturn for purposes of magick.
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Monad The 'Monas Hieroglphica' (one glyph) is an emblem proposed orignally by Athanasius Kircher and expnded on by Dr. John Dee for his seventeenth century treatise on the creation of a mystical symbolic language of the same name. The figure is based on the egyptian Ankh and contains symbols of the seven planets/alchemical metals.
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Holy Table The specially constructed table built by Dr. John Dee for use in his Enochian workings. The characters in the center are from the enochian alphabet.
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Ouroboros (Infinity Snake or"tail swallower") - The ouroboros is usually depicted in the form of a snake swallowing its tail, and is usually circular, although it is sometimes depicted in a lemniscate shape. The ouroboros originated in Egypt as a symbol of the sun, and represented the travels of the sun disk. In Gnosticism, it was related to the solar God Abraxas, and signified eternity and the soul of the world.
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Seal of Cagliostro A serpent pierced by an arrow, thus representing the letter Aleph, an image of the union between active and passive, spirit and life, will and light. The arrow is that of the antique Apollo, while the serpent is the python of fable, the green dragon of Hermetic philosophy. The letter Aleph represents equilibrated unity. The arrow signifies the active principle, will, magical action, the coagulation of the dissolvent, the fixation of the volatile by projection and the penetration of earth by fire.
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Caduceus The legendary herald's wand of the Greek God Hermes (Roman, Mercury). This symbol, a winged staff entwined by twin serpents, is nearly universal, found in Egypt, Mesopotamia, and India, where it is always a symbol of harmony and balance. In the Hermetic Tradition, the cadeceus is a symbol of spiritual awakening, and has been likened to the Kundalini serpents of Hindu mysticism.
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Star of Babalon (or waratah blossom) - This seven pointed star is the symbol chosen by Aleister Crowley to symbolize Babalon, the Thelemic Goddess who is the personification of the kabbalistic sphere of Binah. The seven points are the seven letters of the name babalon, the seven planets, the seven "veils," and the seven chakras.
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Sigil Denotes a magical sigil, a glyph used in ritual or sympathetic magick as a focus, or for summoning angels, demons, or spirits. Sigils as the signature of 'mark' of a spirit began in antiquity and reached a peak of popularity in during the Renaissance.
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Lotus The Lotus flower is held sacred in the Hindu, Buddhist, and Egyptian religions. The Lotus is a type of water lily, which rises from muddy waters to blossom, making it a symbol of purity and resurrection. The Lotus is one of the eight auspicious signs of Buddhism- an eight petalled lotus used in Buddhist mandalas symbolizes cosmic harmony, a thousand petalled lotus, spiritual illumination. A bud symbolizes potential. In Egyptian mythology, the lotus was associated with the sun, because it bloomed by day, and closed by night. The lotus was even believed to have given birth to the sun.
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Tau Cross The Tau cross was a symbol of the Roman God Mithras and the Greek Attis, and their forerunner Tammuz, the Sumerian solar God, the consort of the Goddess Ishtar. Tammuz, like Christ, was associated with fishing and shepherding. The Tau cross takes the shape of the letter of his name, and is one of the oldest letters known. A solar god, the death and resurrection of Tammuz were celebrated every spring. The custom of marking the forehead with a cross of ashes dates back to these rituals. Esoterically, the Tau represents a gate or opening, symbolic death.
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Nonagram A nine pointed star composed of three overlapping triangles. In esoteric kabbalistic doctrine, it represents the sphere of Yesod, the moon, dreams and illusions.
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Enneagram Devised by the esoteric philosopher Gurdjieff, a nine pointed glyph representing the underlying geometry of the universe.
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Sigil of Ameth (Seal of the Truth of God) - Ameth" is Hebrew for "truth." The Sigil of Ameth (or Sigillum Dei Aemeth) is best known as the large, complex circular symbol, with six pointed figures and the names of God and various angels incribed thereon. The disk was placed in several places on the Holy Table and would protect the workings from outside influences.
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Tree of Life An arrangement of ten interconnected spheres (called sephiroth), which represent the central organizational system of the Jewish Kabbalistic tradition. The Tree of Life is considered to be a map of the universe and the psyche, the order of the creation of the cosmos, and a path to spiritual illumination. The ten spheres represent the ten archetypal numbers of the Pythagorian system; they are connected by paths assigned to the twenty two letter-numbers of the Hebrew alphabet.
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YHVH The four letter tetragrammaton (Greek, 'four letters') is the 'true' name of the God of the Hebrew scriptures. Its pronunciation is considered to have great power, and was never spoken aloud, save for once a year, in the inner sanctuary of the Temple during the rites of Yom Kippur. The tetragrammaton is central to the doctrines of both the Jewish and Esoteric Kabbalistic traditions, where it is equivalent to the four kabbalistic worlds of creation, the four elements, the four archangels, and the four cardinal directions. Christian kabbalists added the letter "Shin", rendering "YHShH," or Yeheshua, Jesus, as proof of the divine origin of Christ.
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Adam Kadmon Represents the primordial, pre-created Man, an image of the Godhead that existed before any other divine emanation. It is a vertical arrangement of the four letters of the Tetragrammaton, the four letter name of God as given to Moses in the Hebrew Bible. In this shape, they represent Keterim, the first reflection or image of the Ain Sof. The image is derived from the book of Ezekiel, where the "Divine Glory" is described as appearing in the shape of a man.
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Tetraktys (from the Greek, tetras, four) - A triangular figure composed of the first ten points arranged in the shape of a pyramid. The tetraktys was devised by the Greek philosopher Pythagoras as a symbol of the Cosmos. The tetraktys was so sacred to the Pythagoreans that it formed the basis of their oath. The dots represent numbers, and their descent symbolizes the order of creation of the known universe, and the increasing complexity of its manifestation.
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Kabbalah (Kabbalastic Tree Diagram) - Alternate symbol for the Tree of Life, the central organizational system of the Jewish Kabbalistic tradition.
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Magen David The Star of David is the primary modern emblem of the Jewish religion. Legend has it that the emblem was used by the Biblical King David (hence the name 'Magen David,' or shield of David). In reality, it was not associated specifically with the faith until the middle ages, when it began to appear on flags, tombstones, and synagogue decorations. Kabbalistically, the hexagram symbolizes the six directions of space, the divine union of male and female energy, and the four elements.
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Serpent Cross (or Crucified Serpant) - This grusome symbol is an old alchemical drawing representing the "fixing of the volatile," or, making the elixir of mercury, a legendary curative, by removing the 'volatile' or poisonous element. The picture is derived from the biblical story of Moses, who erected a brazen snake as a charm against plague.
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Red King a fire triangle, with three radiating arrows below represents the "Perfect Red King," the Sulfur of the Philosophers. In alchemy, sulphur represents Sol, the fiery male element (the counterpart of Luna, mercury, the female element) of the Celestial marriage (conjunctio).
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